BRING IT ON
Ross wants to give fans a derby victory
St Mirren boss Jack Ross insists his side understand fans are still reeling from the side’s recent derby day defeat.
But the Saints gaffer is convinced the Buddies will prove to the supporters that they are ready to right the wrongs of August’s 4- 1 humbling by Greenock Morton when the two sides go head-to-head tomorrow.
Ross has endured something of a mixed bag of results when locking horns with Jim Duffy as Saints boss, winning one, losing two, and drawing one, in his four derbies in charge.
The 4-1 reverse of the ‘Ton back in April served as a highlight of the side’s turnaround last season - but Ross is focused on the here and now as he targets another three points.
Ross said: “For supporters, I understand that it is important for us to try and put things right.
“The great thing in football, because of the nature of the business, is you quite often in Scotland get to do that quickly because you play each other four times.
“We had a great result down at Cappielow last season and they reversed that in August.
“We know we need to try and turn that back in our favour on Saturday.
“People will point to the result at Cappielow at the beginning of the season.
“I understand the extra factors that go with it for people that go and watch the team but our drive remains as consistent every week because we obviously have a bigger ambition to try and be successful this season.”
Recent clashes between the pair have always been high scoring, with 16 goals coming in just the four games of Ross’ reign.
He admits that the nature of Saints’ results in general are down to the style of play that they have adopted under him, but having seen his side record a rare 0-0 draw with Falkirk last weekend, Ross is unconvinced of a repeat tomorrow.
He added: “A lot of our games have been high scoring anyway, which is why last weekend’s result was so unusual.
“We have had very few no-scoring draws in my time at the club. It is encouraging to know that we can grind out those types of results but I would expect Saturday to be open and entertaining as they have been in previous games as well.
“Morton have a number of attacking threats. Even with the injuries they have had recently, they play with a lot of attacking players as well.
“Our form and goalscoring record over the past few months speaks for itself in that regard as well.
“I think both teams go into matches confident that they will get on the scoresheet, we just have to make sure we come out that on the positive side on Saturday.”